Refrigerating apparatus



. ATTORNEY..

L. A. PHILIPP REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed May 24, 1934 I 9 -r. -Wik iv W as m n RNRAM R$NMWR$R N$& 2 I 1 z a i mi A K J m n i .n \n n 4 f. na m g9 w m V w a 4 n L Nov; 16, 1937.

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Patented Nov. 16, 1937 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Lawrence A. Philipp,Detroit, Mich, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich, acorporation of Maryland Application May 24, 1934, Serial No. 727,261

My invention pertains to means for absorbing odors in refrigerators andmore particularly to a method of and means for absorbing odors inhousehold refrigerators. I

The accumulation of odors in refrigerators is an annoyance well known tousers of all kinds of refrigerators and ice boxes. The problem ofeliminating this unsatisfactory condition has not been successfullysolved because known odlor absorbers were too large and expensive, orwere not emcient or conveniently replenishable.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide an odor absorbingmeans for refrigerators which has a small volumetric displacement andpresents a large odor absorbing surface.

It is a further object of my invention to provide odor absorbing meanswhich is so arranged and disposed that it will more emciently absorb theodors from the air as it circulates within the refrigerator.

It is also an object of my invention to provide an efllcient odorabsorber which will occupy a small space within the refrigerator, andwhich may be conveniently replenished.

' In accordance with my invention 1 provide a layer of some odorabsorbing substance, such as white mineral oil, spread over a largesurface under the cooling unit in the path of the cooled circulatingair. In one embodiment of my invention a baiiie plate is provided underthe cooling unit to regulate the flow of air and a piece of oiled paperis spread on the upper surface of the baffle plate where it is exposedto the flow of cooled air as it passes down from the cooling unit. Theexcess paper is provided in a small roll at the top of the baffle platefrom which a new piece of paper is conveniently rolled out to expose afresh surface. In this embodiment an oil container may be also providedfor slowly dripping oil onto the surface, thus continually producing afresh odor absorbing surface.

In accordance with another embodiment of my invention white mineraloil'is poured in the drip pan and floats on'the water in the pan. As theair circulates over the cooling unit the cooled air passes down over thedrip pan and the odors in the air are readily absorbed in the oilsurface. The oil is very' conveniently removed when required.

The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and itsmethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will best be understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments, when 5 Claims. (01. 62 -89) read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the upper portion of a refrigeratorprovided with an odor absorber arranged in accordance with my invention;and 5 Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a modification thereof. a

Referring more specifically to Fig. 1 of the drawing I have shown arefrigerator cabinet in having side walls of usual heat insulatingconstruction and a door II. The cabinet encloses a cooling unit I2supported at the top of the compartment in the usual manner. The flow ofair in the compartment.is directed over and under the cooling unit i2,by a baffle plate l3 which is baille iii. The roll of paper may besupported on a roller it the ends of which may be journalled 4 inslotted bearings in upturned ears I! provided on opposite sides at theupper end of the baflle plate IS. The paper is coated with an odorabsorbing substance such as white mineral oil.

As the air circulates in the compartment it passes up the rear wall ofthe cabinet [0 thence around the cooling unit i2, down the front of thecabinet and over the upper surface of the baffle I3. In this manner theair is repeatedly exposed to the odor absorbing surface on the strip ofpaper l5 at a time in its cycle 'of circulation when its condition ismost favorable for depositing the odors. When the paper i5 becomessaturated with odors a new piece of paper may be very convenientlyrolled out and a new odor absorbing surface exposed.

The odor absorbing surface may be continuously replenished from an oilcontaining vessel or trough i8, which is mounted above the upper end ofthe strip of paper i5 on'a suitable bracket and is provided with a wickIQ for continuously applying oil to the paper from the vessel.

In accordance with my invention a conventional refrigerator installationmay be provided with an effective odor absorbing surface by adding asmall quantity of odor absorbing substance 2|, such as white mineraloil, in the drip pan 22,

which is usually placed on a shelf 23 directly under the cooling unitl2, as shown in Fig. 2. The oil 2| floats on any water in the drip pan22, and a very small quantity of oil is suflicient to provide an odorabsorbing film of large area.

As the air in the cabinet in circulates continuously and is cooled bythe cooling unit I! it passes down over the drip pan 22 where the odorsare readily absorbed in the oil surface. In this arrangement only asmall quantity of oil is used and it is very conveniently replenished.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided an eflicient odorabsorber for refrigerators which is compact, efficient and convenientlyreplenishable.

Although I have shown and described certain specific embodiments of myinvention, I am fully aware that many modifications thereof arepossible. My invention, therefore, is not to be restricted exceptinsofar as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination a heat insulating refrigerator cabinet, a cooling unitmounted in the upper portion of said cabinet, a strip of paper, a filmof oil thereon, and means for supporting the paper adjacent to thecooling unit in the path of the cooled circulating air.

2. In combination a heat insulating refrigerator cabinet, a cooling unitmounted in said cabinet, odor absorbing and baflle means comprising astrip of paper, a film of oil thereon, and

means for supporting said paper adjacent the cooling unit in the path ofthe circulating air.

3. In combination a refrigerator comprising a heat insulating cabinetand a cooler unit mounted in said cabinet,. a baflie plate angularlydisposed under said cooling unit, a roll of paper mounted adjacent oneend ofthe bailie plate for supplying a strip of paper across the upperface of the baflle plate and an odor absorbing substance on said paper.

4. In combination, a heat insulating refrigerator cabinet, a coolingunit mounted in said cabinet, a baiile plate supported under said unit,a strip of paper on the upper surface of said baffle plate, and an odorabsorbing substance on said paper. v

5. In combination, a heat insulating refrigerator cabinet, a coolingunit mounted in said cabinet, a strip of paper, means for continuouslyapplying a layer of odor absorbing substance thereon, and means 'forsupporting said paper adjacent the cooling unit in the path of thecirculating air. Y

LAWRENCE A. PHILIPP.

